Effect of dietary protein concentrates on the incidence of subclinical necrotic enteritis and growth performance of broiler chickens.

An experiment was conducted to quantify the effects of 3 nutritionally complete (similar protein and energy) corn-based diets that contained different dietary protein concentrates (potato-CP 76%, fish-CP 66%, or a mixture of soy proteins, soybean meal-CP 48%, and full-fat soy-CP 36%) on the incidence of spontaneously occurring subclinical necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens. A total of 1,260 birds were placed into 18 solid floor pens (70 birds per pen) and fed 1 of the 3 experimental diets from 15 to 31 d of age. The weight gains and feed intakes of the birds fed the potato- and fish-based diets were lower (P < 0.

Evaluation of PCR assays for quantifying seed-borne infection by Fusarium and Microdochium seedling blight pathogens.

Aims: To evaluate competitive PCR assays for quantifying seed-borne Microdochium and Fusarium seedling blight pathogen DNA and to determine test and year repeatability and sources of variability.

Methods And Results: Relationships between DNA and plate counts were significant for Fusarium and Microdochium seedling blight pathogens in 152 seed batches from 3 years. Coefficient of determinations, however, differed greatly (Fusarium; R(2) = 0.

Potential enhancement of degradation of the nematicides aldicarb, oxamyl and fosthiazate in UK agricultural soils through repeated applications.

Background: The potential for enhanced degradation of the carbamoyloxime nematicides aldicarb and oxamyl and the organophosphate fosthiazate was investigated in 35 UK agricultural soils. Under laboratory conditions, soil samples received three successive applications of nematicide at 25 day intervals.

Results: The second and third applications of aldicarb were degraded at a faster rate than the first application in six of the 15 aldicarb-treated soils, and a further three soils demonstrated rapid degradation of all three applications.

Fusarium mycotoxin content of UK organic and conventional oats.

Every year between 2002 and 2005 approximately 100 samples of oats from fields of known agronomy were analysed by GC/MS for 10 trichothecenes: deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol, 3-acetylDON, 15-acetylDON, fusarenone X, T-2 toxin (T2), HT-2 toxin (HT2), diacetoxyscirpenol, neosolaniol and T-2 triol. Samples were also analysed for moniliformin and zearalenone by HPLC. Of the 10 trichothecenes analysed from 458 harvest samples of oat only three, 15-acetylDON, fusarenone X and diacetoxyscirpenol, were not detected.

Fusarium mycotoxin content of UK organic and conventional wheat.

Each year (2001-2005), 300 samples of wheat from fields of known agronomy were analysed for ten trichothecenes by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) including deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol, 3-acetyl-DON, 15-acetyl-DON, fusarenone X, T2 toxin, HT2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, neosolaniol and T-2 triol and zearalenone by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Of the eleven mycotoxins analysed from 1624 harvest samples of wheat, only eight were detected, and of these only five-deoxynivalenol, 15-acetyl-DON, nivalenol, HT-2 and zearalenone-were detected above 100 microg kg(-1). DON was the most frequently detected Fusarium mycotoxin, present above the limit of quantification (10 microg kg(-1)) in 86% of samples, and was usually present at the highest concentration.

Effects of level and form of dietary zinc on dairy cow performance and health.

A basal mixed ration supplying 36 mg of Zn/kg of dry matter (DM) was supplemented with 1 of 4 concentrates differing in level and form of dietary Zn. The concentrates were fed at 2 kg/cow per day and contained 300 mg of Zn/kg (to supply the total recommended level, according to NRC (2001); R) or 60 mg of Zn/kg (to supply 0.66 of the total recommended level; L), either supplemented as ZnO (I) or organically chelated Zn (O).

Inorganic salts for suppressing powdery mildew in cucurbits--a worldwide survey.

The present review provides an update of recent progress in the use of inorganic salts to manage powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea and Erysiphe cichoracearum) in cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae). A literature survey identified 16 salts, mainly bicarbonates (e.g.

Utilisation of inorganic salts in fungal crop disease management in the U.K.

The overaLl aim of the study described in this communication was to utilise the findings of a global scientific and technical literature survey on the use of inorganic salts against crop fungal diseases in order to assess the potential of using these substances to reduce the reliance of UK growers on conventional fungicides. A summary of the main findings of the Literature survey is provided followed by information on the current commercial use of inorganic salt-based products in fungal disease management. Finally, the scope of potential use of inorganic salts on high disease risk crops in the UK is assessed and specific crop/pathogen combinations are prioritised for further research.

The efficiency of energy retention of broiler chickens and turkeys fed on diets with different lysine concentrations.

1. An experiment determined the effect of 6 different lysine concentrations (40, 52, 58, 65, 90 and 130 g/kg CP) in two protein concentrations (210 and 260 g/kg) on the efficiency of energy utilisation of broiler chickens and turkeys. Ninety-six male Ross 308 broiler chicks and 96 male BUT Big 6 turkey poults were fed at 90% of ad libitum during a 12 d bioassay period.

Growth performance of broiler chickens fed diets containing shea nut (Vitellaria paradoxa, Gaertn.) meal fermented with Aspergillus niger.

Shea nut meal is a by-product of the shea fat industry in West Africa. The objective was to determine the effect of shea nut meal fermentation using Aspergillus niger on growth performance of broiler chickens. An expeller shea nut meal was fermented in a closed plastic container for 8 d after the addition of 0.

Effects of fungal (Aspergillus niger or Ceriporiopsis subvermispora) fermentation on the nutritive value of shea nut (Vitellaria paradoxa) meal for broiler chicks.

1. Shea nut (Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn.) meal was fermented for 8 d with either Aspergillus niger, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora or a mixture of the two organisms.

The effect of temperature shock and grain morphology on alpha-amylase in developing wheat grain.

Background And Aims: The premature production of alpha-amylase without visible germination has been observed in developing grain of many cereals. The phenomenon is associated with cool temperatures in the late stages of grain growth but the mechanisms behind it are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to replicate the phenomenon under controlled conditions and investigate the possibility of a mechanistic link with grain size or endosperm cavity size.

Metabolizable energy in different shea nut (Vitellaria paradoxa) meal samples for broiler chickens.

Shea nut meal is obtained after fat extraction from shea nuts produced in West Africa. Two experiments compared the ME of different shea nut meal samples. The objective of the first experiment was to estimate the TME(n) of 2 expeller shea nut meal samples and a single nonindustrial shea nut meal sample using a precision-fed broiler assay.

Fungicide seed treatment efficacy against Microdochium nivale and M. majus in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Seed-borne Microdochium majus (Wollenweber) and M. nivale Fries are the primary pathogens responsible for Fusarium seedling blight in the UK. The two species show differences in pathogenicity, host preference and sensitivities to temperature, but their relative sensitivities to fungicide seed treatments are unknown.

The effect of fish oil supplementation of pregnant and lactating ewes on milk production and lamb performance.

Supplementation of pregnant ewes with long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) demonstrably improves indicators of neonatal lamb vigour, potentially improving the number of lambs reared per ewe. The present study investigated the effect of supplementing ewes with fish oil and vitamin E (α-tocopherol acetate) throughout both pregnancy and lactation on the performance of lactating ewes and sucking lambs. Forty-eight ewes were supplemented with one of four concentrates containing either Megalac or fish oil plus a basal (50 mg/kg) or supranutritional (500 mg/kg) concentration of vitamin E from 6 weeks pre-partum until 4 weeks post partum in a two-by-two factorial randomised-block design.

Effects of trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid on ovine milk fat synthesis and cheese properties.

Trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces milk fat synthesis in sheep in a manner similar to that seen in dairy cows, but its effects on cheese yield and flavor are unknown. Additionally, when dietary energy supply is restricted, CLA can increase milk and milk protein yield, which may alter cheese yield and eating quality. The objectives of the study were to examine the effects of supplementing ewe diets with a rumen-protected source of CLA at a high and low dietary energy intake on milk fat and protein synthesis and on cheese yield and eating quality.

Effect of rate of substitution of processed, urea-treated whole-crop wheat for grass silage on the intake, milk production and diet digestibility in dairy cows and ruminal metabolism in vitro.

The effect of rate of substitution of processed, urea-treated whole-crop wheat (pWCW) for grass silage on intake, performance and whole-tract digestibility was evaluated using 44 dairy cows. Cows received 10.5 kg of concentrates per day and one of the following forage mixtures (dry matter (DM) basis): grass silage alone (W-0); 0.

Influence of rearing conditions and respiratory disease on haptoglobin levels in the pig at slaughter.

Associations between serum concentrations of haptoglobin, pathological lung lesions indicative of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (EP) or Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (PL) infection at slaughter and previous rearing environment were investigated in 510 pigs (90-100 kg live weight) from 17 farms in England. Haptoglobin concentrations were significantly higher in pigs showing pathological signs of EP infection compared to those without signs of this disease (EP positive median 0.43 mg ml(-1) vs.

Apparent metabolisable energy and digestibility of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) fat, cocoa (Theobroma cacao) fat and soybean oil in broiler chicks.

1. The objective of this experiment was to determine and compare the apparent lipid digestibility coefficient and apparent metabolisable energy (AME) value of shea nut (Vitellaria paradoxa, Gaertn.) fat in broiler chickens with that of soybean oil and cocoa fat.

Effect of eyespot caused by Oculimacula yallundae and O. acuformis, assessed visually and by competitive PCR, on stem strength associated with lodging resistance and yield of winter wheat.

Winter wheat, (cv. Consort) was inoculated with three isolates of either Oculimacula yallundae or O. acuformis to determine the effect of eyespot caused by each species on yield and lodging resistance of winter wheat.

Soil moisture mediates association between the winter North Atlantic Oscillation and summer growth in the Park Grass Experiment.

Several aspects of terrestrial ecosystems are known to be associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) through effects of the NAO on winter climate, but recently the winter NAO has also been shown to be correlated with the following summer climate, including drought. Since drought is a major factor determining grassland primary productivity, the hypothesis was tested that the winter NAO is associated with summer herbage growth through soil moisture availability, using data from the Park Grass Experiment at Rothamsted, UK between 1960 and 1999. The herbage growth rate, mean daily rainfall, mean daily potential evapotranspiration (PE) and the mean and maximum potential soil moisture deficit (PSMD) were calculated between the two annual cuts in early summer and autumn for the unlimed, unfertilized plots.

Factors in the housing environment of finisher pigs associated with the development of gastric ulcers.

The prevalence and severity of gastric ulcers were investigated in a sample of 50 slaughter pigs from each of 16 commercial farms in the uk. The mean prevalence of ulcers was 19.1 per cent and the mean (se) severity score on the 16 farms was 2.

The use of an alternative food source (red clover) as a means of reducing slug pest damage to winter wheat: towards field implementation.

Slugs are major pests of many crops in the UK, including winter wheat, yet current methods of control are often unreliable. The aim of this study was to investigate three issues key to the successful field implementation of a control strategy that uses red clover as an alternative food source to reduce the amount of damage caused to winter wheat by the field slug, Deroceras reticulatum (Müller). A series of three experiments was designed to assess this aim.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy alters neonatal behavior in sheep.

The objectives of the study were to determine whether supplementation of pregnant ewes with long-chain (n-3) fatty acids present in fish oil, in combination with dietary vitamin E, would alter neonatal behavior in sheep. Twin- (n=36) and triplet- (n=12) bearing ewes were allocated at d 103 of gestation to 1 of 4 dietary treatments containing 1 of 2 fat sources [Megalac, a calcium soap of palm fatty acid distillate or a fish oil mixture, high in 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3)] and 1 of 2 dietary vitamin E concentrations (50 or 500 mg/kg) in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Feeding fish oil increased gestation length by 2 d and increased the proportion of 22:6(n-3) within neonatal plasma by 5.

Phylogenetic analysis of EF-1 alpha gene sequences from isolates of Microdochium nivale leads to elevation of varieties majus and nivale to species status.

Degenerate PCR primers were designed based on EF-1 alpha (EF-1alpha) gene sequences of several filamentous fungi retrieved from sequence databases. These primers were used to isolate a partial sequence, approximately 830 bp in length of the EF-1alpha from isolates of Microdochium nivale obtained from various geographic locations across the world. Two distinct groups of isolates were evident among those isolates examined.